Justin Rose Wins Farmers Insurance Open; Freddy Schott Claims Victory at Bahrain Championship
Watching experience beat youth never gets old, especially when it’s done with the kind of precision that only comes from years of grinding it out on tour. This week gave us exactly that story on both sides of the world.
PGA Tour: Farmers Insurance Open
Justin Rose turned back the clock at Torrey Pines, winning the Farmers Insurance Open with the kind of smart, patient golf that made him a household name. The Englishman showed he’s still got plenty left in the tank on one of the tour’s toughest tracks.
He had to beat three guys tied at 16-under to do it: Pierceson Coody, Ryo Hisatsune, and Si Woo Kim. That’s quite a mix—Coody’s got golf in his blood (his grandfather won two majors), Hisatsune is part of Japan’s golf boom, and Kim’s always dangerous when he’s on.
What I loved about Rose’s win was how he handled the final rounds. Torrey Pines doesn’t give you anything for free, especially when those Pacific winds start howling. Rose, now in his forties, just seemed to roll with whatever the course threw at him. He played with that measured aggression you only get from years of knowing exactly what you can and can’t do.
Don’t sleep on Jake Knapp’s fifth-place finish at 15-under. He’s been knocking on the door lately and looks like he’s figuring out how to compete at this level.
DP World Tour: Bahrain Championship
Over in the Persian Gulf, Freddy Schott got his first big win at the Bahrain Championship, finishing 17-under to edge Patrick Reed and Calum Hill by a shot.
Reed being right there doesn’t surprise me. Say what you want about his off-course drama, but the guy knows how to play when it matters. Seeing him tied for second with Hill was interesting—you’ve got the fiery American veteran next to this steady Scottish player who’s been quietly building his reputation on the European tour.
Daniel Hillier and Sergio Garcia tied for fourth at 16-under, which tells you something about both players. Garcia’s still hanging around at the top of leaderboards well into his forties. The guy just knows how to score, even as the game gets younger and younger around him.
Hillier caught my eye too. The New Zealander has been popping up in good spots lately. This T4 feels like another step forward for someone who’s clearly figuring out how to compete with the best.
Looking Forward
This week showed professional golf at its best. You had veterans like Rose and Garcia proving they’re not done yet, while younger guys like Coody and Hisatsune kept pushing and making their mark.
That’s what I love about this game—it rewards different things at different times. Sometimes it’s raw talent, sometimes it’s experience, sometimes it’s just who wants it most on Sunday. Rose’s steady excellence at Torrey Pines and Schott’s breakthrough in Bahrain both came down to being ready when the moment arrived.
Golf rewards patience more than most sports, and this week felt like proof of that.